2009/06/04

Port Charlotte, Fla. (May 19, 2009) – It’s not all about fun and games, but folks sure know how to enjoy themselves. After all, what’s a better occasion for a celebration than a grand opening?

Carnival aroma of cotton candy, barbecue and popcorn filled the air so that you could barely notice the smell of fresh paint from the new building at Grand Oaks Plaza II on Saturday, May 16. That’s when Southwest Florida College held its grand opening celebration.

Everyone was invited to see what makes the new Port Charlotte campus so unique. Guests took tours of the new state-of-the-art classrooms, medical assisting laboratories and surgical technician operating room. An estimated 250 guests shared in the fun and nearly two dozen made appointments to return for more serious reasons – to explore their career options in the fast-growing medical field.

“It’s great, my kids are enjoying it,” said student Bridget Camp on Saturday, who was happy that her children could see where she went to school. Her sons Preston Camp, 5 and Dalton Camp, 9, enjoyed the bouncy twister and bean bag toss games. Other children had their faces painted like tigers and butterflies by Paulli the Clown and stood in line for balloon art of monkeys climbing trees, airplanes and swords.

To date, approximately 100 students attend Southwest Florida College’s Port Charlotte campus, located at 950 Tamiami Trail. Some students are studying to become medical assistants and surgical technicians, while others are taking courses in Medical Billing and Coding Technology, Health Information Technology and, starting in the summer, Early Childhood Care and Management to obtain their Florida Child Care Professional Credential. Even more programs are anticipated for the near future and are currently in the approval process.

“Southwest Florida College has earned a reputation for providing quality career education that leads to jobs in fields with high growth potential,” said Dr. Stephen Calabro, Executive Vice President for Southwest Florida College. “Our presence in Port Charlotte will add to the growing list of educational options for Charlotte County resident and will also extend our reach to other areas as well, such as North Port and Arcadia,” he said.

As a career college, SWFC’s programs are directly related to employment and Southwest Florida College takes it one step further by offering lifetime career placement assistance to all qualified graduates. Faculty members bring both academic preparation and industry experience to the classroom, which also help students make the transition from the classroom to the real world.

For more information or for directions to the new Southwest Florida College, Port Charlotte campus, call toll free (888) 526-7973 or visit www.swfc.edu.
Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning centrally located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte, and includes the Institute of Interior Design located within the Miromar Design Center in Estero. The College has been providing post secondary education to Floridians since 1974 and offers programs in Allied Health, Business, Design, Education, Information Technology and Legal Studies. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities for individuals to acquire knowledge and skills that will help prepare them for rewarding careers in fields with high growth potential. For more information, call toll free 888-526-7973 or visit http://www.swfc.edu.